Nick MacPhee, 25, of Bristol, won the seventh annual Central Maine Strongman championship at 175 pounds on April 12. The victory was the equivalent of a state championship, and qualifies him for the national competition, to be held this fall in Reno, Nev.
The top four competitors in every weight division at nationals move on to world competition, hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to be held in Columbus, Ohio.
There are 50 separate events and four weight divisions in strongman competitions; under 175, under 200, under 235, and super-heavyweight. in strongman competitions. Competitors learn which four or five events will be contested at a specific competition about a month before that competition.
At the Central Maine Strongman championships, MacPhee competed in the yoke press, yoke medley, max log clean, defending dead lift, and Atlas stones.
In yoke press, a competitor picks up weight on a frame (150 pounds) and walks a measured distance. The competitor does as many repetitions as he can in 60 seconds. MacPhee did 19 reps.
The yoke medley is a timed event. Competitors pick up 500 pounds on their back (like a squat) and walk 50 feet. They then pick up a 150 pound sandbag and carry it 50 feet, then carry a 150 pound keg and carry it 50 feet. MacPhee completed the task in just over 20 seconds.
MacPhee lifted a combined 270 pounds in the max log clean. Competitors lift 180 pounds to their shoulders. The weight is then increased by 20 pounds twice, and then goes up in increments of 10 pounds until everyone is eliminated.
MacPhee lifted 455 pounds in the defending dead lift. Weights are put on an Olympic bar, which is located 17 inches off the floor. After each lift, a 2×4 is removed and the weight lowered down until the weight is on the floor. Competitors then lift the weight as many times in a row they can from the floor. MacPhee did four repetitions from the floor.
In the Atlas stones competition, competitors lift a large cement sphere onto a platform. The weights get progressively heavier and the platform lower. MacPhee’s first lift was 215 pounds, 54 inches, and he maxed out at 280 pounds, 44 inches.
MacPhee started out powerlifting, before switching over to strongman, because he liked the variety and the excitement the sport generated. He has been training for the past seven years.
MacPhee makes most of all his own implements for competition. “It really is an involved hobby,” he said.
